Key holder for key cases



Jgne 8, 1954 KOELLING 2,680,369

KEY HOLDER FOR KEY CASES Filed Nov. 6, 1950 3 INVENTOR. EDWARD A. Kouuuc Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edward A. Ko'elIing, St. Louis, M assignor to Prince Gardner Company, St. Louis,-.Mo.-,- a corporation of Missouri Application November 6, 1950, Serial No. 194,346

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in key holders for key cases. The present invention constitutes an improvement over the key holder structure disclosed in my earlier Patent No. 2,201,833, issued May 21, 1940.

An object of the present invention is to considerably simplify the construction of and reduce the number of parts in a key holder, where'- by to reduce the cost of manufacture and to improve the key holder retaining and releasing function.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a guard member in association with a simplified key holder and to form the guard member with means adapted to confine it to movement in a particular direction, whereby to increase the ease with Which the usual hangers for keys may be removed or placed in the holder.

The present invention consists in the combination of a holder member having a rolled marginal portion provided with one or more slots in its periphery to receive and support the headed portions of suitable key. hangers, and in the provision of a guard member operably disposed within the rolled margin of the holder for obstructing the key hanger support slots. The invention also consists in the parts and elements hereinafter described, as well as equivalents thereof which may be used in a similar manner.

A more complete understanding of the present improvements may be had from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a key holder case in open position to show the relation of my improved key holder in a typical key case;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of the key holder and key hanger assembly, the parts of the assembly being turned reversed relative to the position shown in Fig. 1 whereby to reveal structural details more clearly;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2v but showing the reverse side or back face of the key holder;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional elevational view taken at line 5-5 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a further detailed sectional view taken at line 5-4; in Fig. 2.

Referring to the several views of the drawing, my improved key holder is disclosed in connection with a typical key case disclosed at P6;

wherein the key case is formed of suitable ma terial, such as leather, and is folded to form the central panel H and wings or flaps l2 carrying cooperating snap elements lit. The panel ll of key case i0 is adapted to support the holder member M which forms the subject or" the pres ent invention.

In Fig. 2 I have shown my improved holder member [4 reverse to the view of Fi 1 so as not to obstruct the same by key hangers.- The member It consists of a flat base plate 15 having one margin rolled backwardly over the plate 55 to form a cylindrical member it in which the free edge I! is adapted to be brought close to or in abutment with th flat portion of the plate [-5. The member IS, in cross-section, has the form substantially of that of a cylinder, the deviation from a true cylindrical shape residing in the relatively limited flat portion adjacent the edge I'I. Cylindrical member is is provided with one or more peripherally directed slots l8 which extend from end portions IE! to enlargements 28 which are disposed in a zone adjacent the flat portion of plate l5, as is clearly seen in connection with Fig. 6. The plate i5 is provided with suitable rivet or holding elements 25' which are adapted to engage in the panel ll of the key case I!) to secure the holder Si in the key case, as" is well understood. It is further to be noted that the free edge ll of the plate [5 is formed with a centrally located notch 22 and with laterally spaced notches 23. These notches will be" explained in more detail hereinafter.

In connection with Fig. 3 I have illustrated a typical form of key hanger 25 in which the shank portion 26 is provided with an enlarged head 21. The slot enlargements 2c are of a size adapted to receive the shank head 2'? of the key holder and the remainder of the slot 5 8 is adapted to receive only the shank portion 2'6 of the key holder and provide support for the shank head 27. In this manner the key holders 25 are eifectively locked into the slots it of the plate IE but are permitted free rotational displacement and a desirable degree of angular displacement all within the confines of the slots [8. With key hangers of the present type, the flat portion of the cylindrical member l6 forms an inclined shelf 23 which, in th normal position of the case [0 tends to slide the hangers into the closed ends [9 of the slots is.

In combination with the slotted cylindrical portion E5 of my holder plate, I have provided a guard member in the form of a fiat plate 353 which is adapted to extend longitudinally through the cylindrical member l6 and assume a position in obstructing relation adjacent the slot enlargements so that the edge 3! of plate will be eifective to intercept the head portion 21 of the key holder shank 26. This action of plate 38 and edge 3| is clearly shown in dotted outline in Figs. 5 and 6. The opposite longitudinal edge portion 32 of plate 30 is adapted to be disposed in rockable relation at the inner surface of the cylindrical surface member 6 and particularly on the inclined shelf 28 adjacent the free edge of H. Manipulation of the guard plate 30 is facilitated by the provision of a handle element 33 integrally formed and projecting from one end thereof.

The guard plate is adapted to be confined within the cylindrical member I6 and to be limited in its movement through the provision of projections or guide elements 3 3, there being two such guide elements 34 disclosed (Fig. 2) in connection with the present guard plate 30. With reference to Fig. 4, each of the projections 34 constitutes an enlarged portion integrally connected with the plate 36 at the portions which have a somewhat reduced width in relation to the projections 34. These connecting portions 35 of projections 34 are adapted to be positioned within the notches 23 formed in the edge I? of plate l5. In the process of forming the cylindrical member [6, the last forming operation is adapted to occur after guard plate 30 has its projections 34 and connecting elements 35 properly positioned with respect to the notches 23. In this manner, guard plate 30 is securely assembled in the key holder 14, and is permitted a certain degree of rocking motion within the cylindrical member 96 about the longitudinal edge 32 which constitutes a fulcrum edge for the guard. The limit of rocking movement of guard plate 35 is determined by bending or displacing each of the projections 3d out of the plane of the guard plate 30 (see Figs. 3 and 6), the displacement of the projections being selected so that the guard plate 38 may have its free edge 3| rocked to a position approaching the longitudinal center line or axis of cylindrical member Hi. When this position is attained, projections 34 will be brought into abutment with the surface of the holder plate 15, as is shown in dotted outline in connection with Fig. 6. It will be observed in connection with Fig. 3 that the displacement of guard plate as to open the slot enlargements 28 for the free insertion or removal of the key hanger heads 2? will be accomplished upon clockwise displacement of the actuating handle 33.

The present key holder is rendered self-locking through the provision of a resilient element or spring 38 which is suitably riveted or otherwise secured as at 39 to the body portion of plate l5 and is directed to project into a spring guide slot 40 suitably formed in the central portion of plate IS. The spring 38 has its pressure arm 4! adapted to contact a projecting element 32, also integrally formed on the guard plate 36 at the edge 32 thereof. This construction is clearly disclosed in connection with Figs. 4 and 5. The action of the spring 38 is to maintain a force on the guard plate 38 through its projecting tab 42 so as to rock the guard plate in a direction to bring its free edge 3! into obstructing relation over or across the slot enlargements 2!) in the cylindrical member Iii. It will be observed, as the handle 33 of the guard plate 3B is moved in a clockwise direction, that the guard plate projection 42 will force the spring arm M to the right, in Fig. 5, thereby conditioning the spring to re- 4 turn the guard plate 30 to its normal slot ob structing position upon release of the handle 33. This action of spring 38 is further enhanced by forming projection 62 in the plane of the guard plate 3%, whereas guide projections 34 are bent out of the plane thereof (Fig. 5).

A comparison of Figs. 1 and 2 should make it obvious that the key hanger elements 25, in order to be removed from or inserted in the cylindrical member l6, must be brought to a position above the cylindrical member [6. In this condition, the guard plate 30 is free to be rocked about its pivot or fulcrum edge 32 so that the final backward movement of the key hangers 25 will bring the enlarged shank heads 27 thereof into registry with the slot enlargements 20. Due consideration of Figs. 3 and 6 will make this obvious.

The present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, but it should be understood that certain modifications hereof and substitutions of parts and members which are equivalents of the presently described structure may be included Within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A key holder for a key case comprising a base plate adapted to be secured in the key case and having a rolled marginal portion provided with a notch in the free edge thereof and a slot in the rolled portion, said slot having an enlargement at one point to receive the enlarged headed portion of a key hanger adapted to receive support at other points along said slot, a guard member disposed within said rolled marginal portion and having a fulcrum edge about which it may be moved from a normal position guarding said slot enlargement against passage of the headed portion of the key hanger, and a projection on said guard member engageable in said edge notch to retain said member within said rolled marginal portion.

2. A key holder for a key case comprising a base plate one marginal portion of which is rolled over the plate to bring the edge thereof adjacent the plate, said rolled marginal portion having a slot therein, provided with an enlargement at one point to permit passage of the headed shank of a key hanger, and said edge having spaced notches, a guard member movable in said rolled position and adapted to obstruct the slot enlargement to passage of the headed shank of the key hanger, projections on said member, each engaging in an edge notch to limit the movement of said member, and a resilient element on said base plate acting on one of said projections to bias said member into slot enlargement obstructing position.

3. A key holder for a key case comprising a plate one margin of which is rolled to provide a cylindrical body having a slot directed transversely of the cylinder axis and notches spaced along said body in the free edge of the rolled margin, said slot having an enlargement remote from the notched edge, a guard member operably disposed in said cylindrical body to obstruct the said slot enlargements, projections on said guard member extending into said notches to retain the member in said cylindrical body, and resilient means carried on said plate and acting on one of said projections to bias said guard member toward slot enlargement obstructing position. 4. In a key holder device to which key loops having enlarged heads may be removably secured comprising a plate member having a flat base 7 :part adapted to be attached to a flexible support,

a tubular part. formed along one edge of said base part and having circumferential slots terminating in enlarged openings through which the key loop heads may be inserted and removed, a retainer bar positioned within said tubular part, means keying said bar to said plate member and allowing said bar to pivot in said tubular part, a spring tongue member connected to and extending from said base part engaging said bar and normally holding it in position to close off said enlarged openings, and handle means on said bar for operating same against the influence of said spring to free said openings in removing said key loops.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,051,432 Zahn Aug. 18, 1936 2,201,833 Koelling May 21, 194:0 2,351,205 Harvey June 13, 1944 2,401,753 Geller June 11, 1946 2,421,492

Geller June 3, 1947 

